Welcome to Litsy!

Our time is split between two women. Beth whose husband has just left her for a work colleague. And Olivia whose son died age 8. Their stories entwine 68% of the way into the book and only for a few pages.

I'm not sure what was the project of this book, what the author was aiming for. It's flat, leads nowhere and for a book about Autism, it doesn't educate or enlighten at all.

Compared to her other titles this is weak.

A little #weekendreads fun @rachelsbrittain

1. Love Anthony (Lisa Genova); Think Again (Adam Grant)
2. The Sparrow (Mary Doria Russell) + the sequel, Children of God. I have read them both at least 3 times.
3. Breasts: A Natural And Unnatural History (Florence Williams) is currently sitting in an online shopping cart but haven't pulled the trigger yet

Taking my first day off of work in almost a month so naturally I'm curling up with a book. Have loved everything I've read from Lisa Genova so hoping this is the same.

Yes, in a way I loved the book. And yes, I always was reluctant to put it down. And yes, now I‘m sad that it‘s over.

But pleeaase. ? All those cliché-unfolding last 50-60 pages. That‘s the kind of plot line l – prejudice! – call typically U.S. American. ? Why does it always need to be so sentimental ❓ ? Beth and Jimmy were far more relatable to me than Olivia and David. Although I know how a marriage can go down the drain if you raise a ⬇️⬇️⬇️

I‘ve got a bit of a crush on Beth‘s “What-I-need-to-feel-...”-list.

It‘s the assignment she and her husband Jimmy got from the marriage therapist they decided to see. At first, I couldn‘t understand why it‘s so difficult for Beth to articulate her needs. Especially after Jimmy accomplished this surprisingly quickly …
But then …
Now that I see the outcome I can definitely say it was worth the wait.

I might even steal some of her points. 💗

🇬🇧 “Her voice now sounds hollow and trembles with anger.
She hates that she cries every time she‘s angry, like she‘s wired wrong emotionally. Her heart hammers to confirm her anger, her glowing hot face feels her anger, and her mind understands the reasons for her anger, but her eyes take up all this information and come to the conclusion: She is sad. Produce tears.” (p. 177)

⬆️⬆️⬆️ This‼️🤩
Who else feels like that‘s exactly how it is❓

?? „Ihre Stimme klingt jetzt hohl und zittert vor Wut.
Sie blinzelt Tränen zurück. Sie hasst es, dass sie jedes Mal weint, wenn sie wütend ist, als wäre sie emotional falsch verdrahtet. Ihr Herz hämmert, um ihre Wut zu bekräftigen, ihr glühend heißes Gesicht spürt ihre Wut, und ihr Verstand begreift die Gründe für ihre Wut, aber ihre Augen nehmen all diese Informationen auf und kommen zu dem Schluss: Sie ist traurig. Macht Tränen.“ (Seite 177)

Again, it‘s time to ask a question to my U.S. American Littens. In this book I am reading there was this scene where the autistic son had a fit because his mother wanted to drive-by a drugstore.

Don‘t you have the possibility to get a (grant for a) home help or someone who “babysits”your special-needs-child while you go shopping or see your own doctors or something like that❓

Another #Two4Tuesday by @TheSpineView – thanks for always coming up with new ideas, Lisa‼️ And thanks for tagging me, @RamsFan1963 🤗

1️⃣ No, not really. They offer many events for kids and teens and also some popular lecturers – but for kids and teens I‘m too old, and with the last pre-pandemic look I took there were no helpful topics concerning the lectures. 🤷🏽‍♀️

2️⃣ Seldom, but yeah. I go there since I‘m a kindergarten-kid, so I ⬇️⬇️⬇️

Book 18 Another well-researched, medical-condition-based novel by Genova--this one's about autism. Set on a small island popular for summer vacations, an aspiring author writes a book from the perspective of a autistic boy as she faces marital problems. Another woman on the island tries to pick up the pieces of her life after divorce and the death of her child. It was easy to read and engaging; I really enjoyed the novel within the novel. ⭐⭐⭐⭐

(page 133)

⬆️⬆️⬆️ ❤️❤️❤️ I hear you, because I very well remember times in my life where I did, too.

🇬🇧 “And now, having gathered together the elements and the power they need, these many images and sounds in the shadow of their minds fit together through a neurological alchemy that has never been described in any book, first to a chorus, and then, finally, to a single voice together. The shadow is no longer a shadow, it has become an inspiration.” (p. 112)

⬆️⬆️⬆️ Never have I read something more beautiful about the kiss of a muse. 💗

?? „Und jetzt, nachdem sie die Elemente und die Kraft, die sie benötigen, gesammelt haben, fügen sich diese vielen Bilder und Geräusche im Schatten ihres Verstandes durch eine neurologische Alchemie, die in noch keinem Buch beschrieben wurde, erst zu einem Chor, und dann, schließlich, zu einer einzigen Stimme zusammen. Der Schatten ist kein Schatten mehr. Er ist zu einer Inspiration geworden.“ (Seite 112)

?? „Schließlich erreicht Olivia die Kasse. Sie begrüßt die Kassiererin mit einem freundlichen Hallo, packt ihre Einkäufe ein, trägt ihren Leinenbeutel zum Jeep und fährt nach Hause.“ (Seite 99)

?? “Finally, Olivia reaches the cash register. She greets the cashier with a friendly hello, packs her groceries, carries her linen bag to the jeep and drives home.” (p. 99)

⬆️⬆️⬆️ Another one for you, my U.S. Littens. ⬇️⬇️⬇️

And even if …

It‘s only “the people”. 🙄

🎶 “Let people talk and just don‘t listen, most people have nothing bad in mind. It is their monotonous life that torments them and the day becomes more interesting when you tell fairy tales. Let people talk, as long as people talk, they don‘t do anything worse. And you can afford a little hypocrisy. Stay polite and don‘t say anything. That‘s what annoys them the most.” 🎶

👉🏼 https://bit.ly/3d8TvYZ

🇬🇧 “Beth [...] deliberately kept her statement concise and indefinite [...], A futile attempt to protect the girls from having the kind of father that would betray their mother. Therefore, they know that he no longer lives at home, but they do not know the ugly reason [...] It‘s only a matter of time before everyone, including his three beautiful daughters, will know it.” (p. 37)

⬆️⬆️⬆️ Oh girl, it‘s him, not you, no need for _you_ to worry.

?? „Beth […] blieb bei ihrer Erklärung bewusst knapp und unbestimmt […], Ein vergeblicher Versuch, die Mädchen davor zu schützen, die Art von Vater zu haben, der ihre Mutter betrügen würde. Daher wissen sie, dass er nicht mehr zu Hause wohnt, aber sie wissen den hässlichen Grund nicht. Noch nicht. […] es ist nur eine Frage der Zeit, bis alle, einschließlich seiner drei hübschen Töchter, es wissen werden.“ (Seite 37)

📸: https://bit.ly/2Nur38X

Reading and in parallel researching where “everything” is set. 💛💚💙

Let‘s hear it for Information Age‼️ 😍

To my in this moment eremitical inclined self Nantucket in Winter sounds like paradise.

Can some of the U.S. Littens confirm❓😊

Excuse the badly with light and shadow balanced photo. But still I there with declare open the improvised winter garden season, consisting of an armchair being turned around to catch the sunshine coming in through my glass balcony door. 💛🌺

Okay book – you got me. I‘m hooked but so tired. 🥱

😫

On track for #AnyWayYou-Readathon hosted by @kimmypete1 @Eggbeater @MidnightBookGirl

✅ 1 nice late breakfast. 🥣😋

✅ Enjoy being and (audio)reading. ❤️

✅ Finish 🇩🇪 „Der Feind in meinem Kopf“ / 🇬🇧 “The Enemy inside my Head” that really did me good.

✅ Start 🇩🇪 „Der Liebe eine Stimme geben“ / 🇬🇧 “Love Anthony”.

Looking forward to this. I feel after “working” on myself I need some fiction.

Book 2 for #FabulousFebruary by @Andrew65 ‼️

I was browned off. After I didn‘t enjoy that Rebecca-Solnit-book for very long, I decided, to right away go and borrow 2 books in a row from my online library. In case one, again, doesn‘t suit me, I‘ll have another.

This is book 2.

1. I‘ve been: babysitter, cashier, gas bar attendant, Respite worker, call center agent, receptionist & I spent years being a Girl Friday on all kinds of different construction type jobs.

2. 🎶📚😻

Thanks @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @Sunraven for the tags🥰

* Count yourself tagged if your interested in playing😊

Another example of what your #BuzzwordBookathon TNR might look like if your #Buzzword is #Love ❤️

@hes7

The story of an accidental friendship that gives a grieving mother a priceless gift: the ability to understand the thoughts of her eight-year-old autistic son and make sense of his brief life.
#autismawareness
#acrossapril

This was my first time reading anything by Lisa Genova, and honestly, I was hoping for better. I was intrigued at first and found the chapters from the autistic boy‘s perspective to be really insightful, but I think the weirdly contrived spiritualism that ties the story and the main characters together kind of threw a wrench into my enjoyment. I‘ll definitely try another by this author, but this one just didn‘t quite work for me.

Wow, this is relatable. 😡😭🤷🏻‍♀️🤦‍♀️

I personally loved Anthony's perspective. I didn't think I would in the beginning but it feels genuine. The representation of his voice lifts a veil of hardship and sadness that I typically have viewed ASD under. Not to lessen the validity of either for any parent, but to better understand a POV from the person with the disorder.

No big twist or surprise, it was obvious a mile away. I could hardly wait until the obvious happened. ⭐⭐⭐⭐

What I do with a book VS what he does with a book 🤦🏼‍♀️

YO - I'm reading that potholder!! 😂😂

** Seriously, this book is a tearjerker. Can't wait to review when I'm finished!!

@Jnnlb made me curious about Lisa Genova‘s books. I saw the film made of „Still Alice“ in the cinema and felt quite the same about it as Jennifer does of her books.

So I browsed my library‘s catalogue and this is what I found.

"The spectrum is long and wide, and we're all on it. Once you believe this, it becomes easier to see how we're all connected"

This started out intriguing but then turned cliche in my opinion. I actually groaned when I realized what was happening!

An awesome book sharing the deep feelings of those so close to a special needs child, the child himself and the bond between 2 women

At the dealer installing my winter tires 🚗❄️☃️ and thoroughly enjoying #LoveAnthony by the awesomely talented Lisa Genova

A lovely mix of humanity, marriage, betrayal, autism, love, loss, forgiveness and ultimately hope. Genova's books are well researched and quite engaging.

Visited the book Sale at my local library today. #bookhaul

Released this #bookcrossing book at a #littlefreelibrary. I hope the next reader enjoys it as much as I did!

Perfect words to start off this year. #loveactually #squadgoals #newyear'sresolution

Sometimes you need a book that makes you cry at the end. Love Anthony was that book. It caught me right in the heart, I kept reading because I couldn't wait to see how it ended. Great book. All the feels...